Best Magnetic Pickups for Acoustic Guitars for Recording 2026
Professional magnetic pickups for acoustic guitars for recording use - perfect sound and reliability
Last updated: January 14, 2026 • Next update: January 21, 2026
#1
⭐
4.4/5
(48 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Fishman Rare Earth Mic Blend
by
Fishman
Folk
Feedback Resistance
Natural Tone
Key Feature:
• Warm, organic sound character
✓ PROS
- • No battery power required
- • Less susceptible to handling noise
✗ CONS
- • Limited dynamic range compared to condensers
- • Can pick up magnetic interference
Fishman Rare Earth Mic Blend 2017Pickup SystemHumbucker pickup and flexible cardioid microphoneMicrophone/Pickup...
⭐
4.4/5
(48 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 175657
$274
#2
⭐
4.5/5
(35 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Takamine TRI-AX 2
by
Takamine
Folk
Natural Tone
Live Performance
Key Feature:
• No battery power required
✓ PROS
- • Warm, organic sound character
- • No battery power required
✗ CONS
- • May not capture full acoustic resonance
- • Can pick up magnetic interference
Takamine TRI-AX 2Magnetic Pickup For Steel-String GuitarSuitable for the Cool Tube PreampAdjustable pole pieces for...
⭐
4.5/5
(35 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 179202
$351
#3
⭐
4.4/5
(22 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
L.R.Baggs M1 Soundhole Pickup
by
L.R.Baggs
Natural Tone
Feedback Resistance
Recording
Key Feature:
• Warm, organic sound character
✓ PROS
- • Less susceptible to handling noise
- • Natural acoustic guitar tone reproduction
✗ CONS
- • Can pick up magnetic interference
- • Limited dynamic range compared to condensers
L.R.Baggs M1 Soundhole PickupSound Hole PickupPassive magnetic pickupFor soundhole mountingMinimum sound hole width: 90...
⭐
4.4/5
(22 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 219557
$238
#4
⭐
4.9/5
(15 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Mojotone Quiet Coil NC-2
by
Mojotone
Live Performance
Natural Tone
Feedback Resistance
Key Feature:
• Warm, organic sound character
✓ PROS
- • Warm, organic sound character
- • Good feedback resistance for live use
✗ CONS
- • Limited dynamic range compared to condensers
- • May not capture full acoustic resonance
Mojotone Quiet Coil NC-2Pickup and Pre-Amp for Acoustic GuitarConstruction: magnetic and mikedFor pickup mounting in...
⭐
4.9/5
(15 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 555504
$263
#5
⭐
5.0/5
(5 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
5/10
Value:
10/10
Harley Benton TrueTone SH-30H Pro Active
Feedback Resistance
Live Performance
Folk
Key Feature:
• Good feedback resistance for live use
✓ PROS
- • Warm, organic sound character
- • No battery power required
✗ CONS
- • May not capture full acoustic resonance
- • May sound less bright than piezo systems
Harley Benton TrueTone SH-30H Pro ActivePickup for Acoustic Steel String GuitarsActive magnetic soundhole pickupActive...
⭐
5.0/5
(5 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
5/10
Value:
10/10
Art. 568909
$65
#6
⭐
4.6/5
(15 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Seymour Duncan Woody Hum Cancelling Walnut
Live Performance
Feedback Resistance
Folk
Key Feature:
• Warm, organic sound character
✓ PROS
- • Natural acoustic guitar tone reproduction
- • No battery power required
✗ CONS
- • Limited dynamic range compared to condensers
- • May sound less bright than piezo systems
Seymour Duncan Woody Hum Cancelling WalnutPickupMagnetic sound hole pickup for acoustic steel string guitarProvides a...
⭐
4.6/5
(15 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 563598
$149
#7
⭐
5.0/5
(50 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Seymour Duncan SA-3XL Woody XL Series
Country
Live Performance
Folk
Key Feature:
• Natural acoustic guitar tone reproduction
✓ PROS
- • Natural acoustic guitar tone reproduction
- • Good feedback resistance for live use
✗ CONS
- • Can pick up magnetic interference
- • Positioning critical for optimal sound
Seymour Duncan SA-3XL Woody XL SeriesElectro - Magnetic PickupFrom the Woody seriesFor sound hole mountingWooden...
⭐
5.0/5
(50 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 235270
$171
#8
⭐
4.5/5
(27 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Mojotone Quiet Coil NC-1 Ac. Pickup
by
Mojotone
Folk
Country
Feedback Resistance
Key Feature:
• Good feedback resistance for live use
✓ PROS
- • Less susceptible to handling noise
- • No battery power required
✗ CONS
- • May sound less bright than piezo systems
- • Can pick up magnetic interference
Mojotone Quiet Coil NC-1 Ac. PickupPickup & Pre-Amp for Acoustic GuitarConstruction: MagneticPickup mounting: In...
⭐
4.5/5
(27 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 524183
$219
#9
⭐
4.6/5
(53 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
L.R.Baggs M1 Activ Soundhole Pickup
by
L.R.Baggs
Feedback Resistance
Live Performance
Recording
Key Feature:
• Natural acoustic guitar tone reproduction
✓ PROS
- • No battery power required
- • Less susceptible to handling noise
✗ CONS
- • Can pick up magnetic interference
- • Limited dynamic range compared to condensers
L.R.Baggs M1 Activ Soundhole Pickup, Soundhole Pickup, Active magnetic pickup (humbucker), For soundhole mounting,...
⭐
4.6/5
(53 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 219558
$256
#10
⭐
4.7/5
(19 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Shadow SH 145 BK Prestige
by
Shadow
Natural Tone
Live Performance
Folk
Key Feature:
• Warm, organic sound character
✓ PROS
- • Good feedback resistance for live use
- • No battery power required
✗ CONS
- • Can pick up magnetic interference
- • May sound less bright than piezo systems
Shadow SH 145 BK Prestige, Pickup for Steel-String GuitarThe SH 145 Prestige is an active sound pickup (humbucker) with...
⭐
4.7/5
(19 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 184876
$122
#11
⭐
4.6/5
(8 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Bartolini Acoustic Soundhole Pickup
by
Bartolini
Natural Tone
Country
Feedback Resistance
Key Feature:
• Natural acoustic guitar tone reproduction
✓ PROS
- • No battery power required
- • Natural acoustic guitar tone reproduction
✗ CONS
- • May sound less bright than piezo systems
- • May not capture full acoustic resonance
Bartolini Acoustic Soundhole PickupSoundhole Pickup for Acoustic GuitarsNatural soundEasy installationCoils arranged on...
⭐
4.6/5
(8 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 602312
$201
#12
⭐
4.7/5
(37 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
DiMarzio The Black Angel DP 234
by
DiMarzio
Feedback Resistance
Recording
Country
Key Feature:
• Good feedback resistance for live use
✓ PROS
- • Warm, organic sound character
- • No battery power required
✗ CONS
- • Limited dynamic range compared to condensers
- • Positioning critical for optimal sound
DiMarzio The Black Angel DP 234, Soundhole Pickup for Steel-string Guitar, Passive humbucker, Phase reverse switch, For...
⭐
4.7/5
(37 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 417760
$219
#13
⭐
4.8/5
(28 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
EMG ACB-4/6 Banjo
by
EMG
Country
Recording
Folk
Key Feature:
• Less susceptible to handling noise
✓ PROS
- • Warm, organic sound character
- • Less susceptible to handling noise
✗ CONS
- • Limited dynamic range compared to condensers
- • Can pick up magnetic interference
EMG ACB-4/6 BanjoHumbucker PickupFor 4 & 6 string banjosAlnico magnetsNoise-freeIncl holdershim steel strip2x...
⭐
4.8/5
(28 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 404194
$307
#14
⭐
4.6/5
(37 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
6/10
Value:
8/10
Fishman Neo-D Humbucker
by
Fishman
Country
Live Performance
Folk
Key Feature:
• Less susceptible to handling noise
✓ PROS
- • Good feedback resistance for live use
- • Natural acoustic guitar tone reproduction
✗ CONS
- • Limited dynamic range compared to condensers
- • May not capture full acoustic resonance
Fishman Neo-D Humbucker, Pickup For Sound Hole, Humbucker, Brilliant acoustic open articulation with little background...
⭐
4.6/5
(37 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
6/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 114855
$87
#15
⭐
4.6/5
(47 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
KNA Pickups HP-1A
by
KNA Pickups
Live Performance
Country
Recording
Key Feature:
• Natural acoustic guitar tone reproduction
✓ PROS
- • Less susceptible to handling noise
- • No battery power required
✗ CONS
- • May sound less bright than piezo systems
- • Can pick up magnetic interference
KNA Pickups HP-1A, Active Humbucker Magnetic Pickup, For mounting in the sound hole, High-gloss mahogany housing, 2.5 m...
⭐
4.6/5
(47 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 585159
$131
How to Choose the Best Magnetic Pickups for Acoustic Guitars
Budget Planning
- • Under $200: Entry-level
- • $200-$500: Intermediate
- • $500-$1000: Advanced
- • $1000+: Professional
Quality Check
- • Sound clarity & tone
- • Build materials & finish
- • Hardware durability
- • Overall craftsmanship
Key Features
- • Your musical style
- • Skill level match
- • Intended use case
- • Brand reputation
Frequently Asked Questions
Key factors include build quality, sound characteristics, playability, brand reputation, warranty coverage, and value for money. Consider your musical style, skill level, and intended use to find the best match.
Budget depends on your needs and experience level. Beginners can find quality options for $200-500, intermediate players should consider $500-1500 range, while professionals often invest $1500+ for premium features.
Higher-priced magnetic pickups for acoustic guitars typically offer better materials, craftsmanship, and performance. They're worth it if you're serious about music, perform regularly, or need professional-grade features.
Top brands combine quality, innovation, and reliability. We evaluate brands based on build quality, sound performance, durability, and customer satisfaction to recommend the best options for different budgets.
Both have advantages. Online offers better prices and selection, while stores allow hands-on testing. We recommend researching online first, then testing in stores if possible. Many online retailers offer excellent return policies.
